Beverage container and conditioner



Patented Apr. 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT vol-FlcE BEVERAGE CONTAINER AND CONDITIONER Lloyd E. nabjolm, Glendale, Calif. Application November 8, 1946, Serial N o'. 708,611

3 Claims. (Cl. Z22-'146) My present invention relates to storage containers from which may be dispensed chilled beverages such as fruit-juices or milk, or hot beverages such asr chocolate or soup. It is well known that the attractiveness of most beverages is enhanced if they made visible to the prospective consumer, and it is therefore desirable to construct the container of glass or other plastic material. However, due to the poor thermalconductivityof such materials the diculty of maintaining the beverage at the desired low or high temperature is then greatly increased; this being especially true in regard to citrus-fruit juices which spoil rapidly if their temperature is permitted to rise more than one or two degrees above the freezing point. It is therefore a main object of this invention to provide means for facilitating transfer of heat to or `from the liquid contents of a display container constructed mainly of glass or plastic; this object being accomplished by forming a portion of the containerwall of metal.

For full understanding of the invention, and further appreciation of its objects and kadvantages, reference i`s to be had to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims.

The single figure of the drawing is arsectional view of a container embodying the invention and shown associated with refrigerating means of preferred construction.

In the drawing, the numeral II generally indicates a container comprising a hollow cylinder I2, of glass or other transparent material, having a conical bottom wall I3 of metal which may be stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant alloy, but is preferably of the highly thermal-conductive type consisting of copper with a thin inner. facing ofl stainless steel. The metal wall I3 is formed at its margin to provide a band I4 which encircles the lower portion of the'glass cylinder; a ller I5, of rubber or thermo-setting plasticmaterial, sealingv the space between these parts. Welded to the b'and I 4 is the stem I6 of a faucet I'I for dispensing the beverage, indicated at I8, with which the container is filled. The opening for the faucet-stem in the glass cylinder is made suiciently large that the stem does not engage the glass, so that the faucet is supported solely by the metal band and the possibility of breakage of the glass (as, if the faucet is jarred) is minimized.

The container II is intended to be associated with apparatus for maintaining its contents at the desired temperature; such apparatus being here representedby way of example, by a conventional refrigerating system comprising an electrically-operated compressor I9, a receiver 2| and condenser 20; these parts being mounted on a base 22 and surrounded by a ventilated housing 23. Mounted on the top of this housing is the cooling unit which comprises a heat-exchanger 24, conveniently of cast aluminum, which serves to support the beverage container and is shaped to conform to the concave metallic wall I3 thereof for optimum thermal transfer and good support of the container. Embedded in this heat-exchanger is the cooling-coil 25 of the refrigerating system, as well as the bulb 25 of a thermostat for controlling the operation of the system in response to variations of the temperature of the beverage transmitted to the heat-exchanger through the bottom wall of the container. For insulating the cooling unit from the heat produced by the compressor, the concavity of the heat-exchanger may be packed with suitable occulent material, as indicated at 21.

Surrounding the container II, so as to provide an insulating dead-air space around it, is a cylindrical cover 28, of transparent material such ,the stirring action required in connection with beverages such as citrus-fruit juices.

Because of the conical shape of the heat-exchanger 24 and of the cooperating bottom-wall I3 of the container, not only is transfer of heat to or from the beverage increased due to the increased area of these parts, but also better support of the container is achieved; however, the invention is not limited to such construction since in its broader aspects it comprehends the use in a container, of the character described, of a metallic wall of any kind which does not unduly obscure view of the beverage on display.

The speciilc embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is obviously susceptible of further modication without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I intend therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination: a container -for storing and displaying beverages and having a cylindrical side 3 wall of transparent material. the bottom of said container being conical in'an upward direction and constructed of metal of substantially uniform thickness so that there is a corresponding conical recess at the underside of said bottom; and apparatus for changing the temperature ofsaid beverage and including a heat-exchanger on whose top surface the bottom of the container normally rests. said top surface being shaped to conform to said conical recess and serving as substantially the sole support for the container, said heat exchangenand said container lbottom being in heat exchange contact throughout substantially the full area of said container bottom.

, 2. In combination, a container for holding bevetages for conditioning having a continuous side wall of transparent material and a conically reentrant bottom of high heat transfer characteristics providing a conical recess at the underside of said bottom, and apparatus for changing the temperature of beverage in the container including a heat 'exchanger on whose top surface the bottom of the vcontainer normally rests, said top said container bottom being in heat exchange contact throughout substantially the full area of said container bottom.

3. In combination, a container for holding beverages for'conditioning having a. continuous side wall and a conically reentrant bottom of high heat transfer characteristics providing a conical recess at the underside of said bottom, and apparatus for changing the temperature of beverage in the container including a heat exchanger on whose top surface the bottom of the container normally rests, said top surface being shaped to conform tosaid conical recess and' serving as substantially the sole support for the container, said lheat exchanger and said container bottom being in heat' exchange contact throughout substantially the full area of said container bottom.

y l LLOYD E. RALBJOHN.

REFERENCES crrlm' The following references arey of record inI the. file of this patent:

UNrrED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,444,262 Morrison Feb. 6, 1923 1,650,999 Preston Nov. 29, 1927 1,796,916 Bonnhiem Mar. 17, 1931 1,806,216 Plummer s- May 19, 1931 1,859,566 Konikow May 24, 1932 1,913,298 Wiegand June 6, 1933 1,954,518 Downer Apr. 10, 1934 2,087,465 Bacher et al. July 20, 1937 2,181,710 Schulse Nov; 28, 1939 2,285,220 Morrell June 2, 1942 2,414,521

Gunther Jan. 21, 1947 

